"Overly adventurous food shopping gets me in trouble every time, along with complicated recipes (calling for obscure ingredients) that I never actually end up making," writes Lee Crosby.
Courtesy of Lee Crosby
hide caption

At Hanukkah, Pastry Reminds Portland Jews Of Their Mediterranean Roots

The mortar and pestle can be found in kitchens around the world, including Thailand. In the United States, chef Tanasapamon Rohman uses the tool to grind up chili paste and pulverize rice at her Thai restaurant.
Jessical Spengler/Flickr
hide caption